IN OUR OPINION

Editorial: Freedom's day

Published: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 10:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 10:26 p.m.

The following was first published in 2010 by the Kalamazoo, Mich., Gazette.

Among the delegates to the American Colonies’ Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on that hot and steamy July 4 day in 1776 were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who went on to become the second and third of our presidents, respectively.

And in one of the most incredible coincidences in our nation’s political history, Adams and Jefferson — the only American presidents to have signed the Declaration of Independence — died exactly 50 years later, Jefferson at Monticello, Va., and Adams at Quincy, Mass.

Interestingly, James Monroe was the third and last American president to die on the Fourth of July. His death occurred in 1831.

The foregoing historical trivia, however fascinating, is only part of the greatest political observance in our country’s history. Jefferson and Adams were among 56 men who literally laid their lives on the line by signing that precious document, of which Jefferson was the principal author.

Benjamin Franklin, a member of the committee which drafted the Declaration, put it bluntly at the signing. He warned his colleagues that “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Of course, these brave leaders could not have envisioned the United States of America today, 234 years after her birth. Surely they knew that King George III of England would commit his full force to putting down the rebellion. But the Revolution was only the first of many more wars, large and small, that were to test the mettle of our people.

It’s highly unlikely that the signers could have predicted the amazing advances in transportation — railroads, huge ships, the automobile, jet airplanes, space vehicles that put Americans on the moon and flew by planets far beyond our Earth.

Indeed, the America and the world today would have blown the minds of our founding fathers.

Nevertheless, those of us alive on this great day have something in common with the Washingtons, Jeffersons, Adamses and Franklins. Their freedom has remained our freedom.

The United States of America, even with the warts it has collected during its history, remains the longest-lasting and most successful democracy in world history. So let us come together, and let us fly our flags proudly.

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and other ceremonies. The Fourth of July is indeed the national day of the United States.

John Adams would have loved it. He wrote these stirring words about Independence Day to his wife, Abigail:

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward, forever more.”

Your words, Mr. President, continue to inspire our country and give today’s Americans a collective sense of great patriotic pride.

<p><em>The following was first published in 2010 by the Kalamazoo, Mich., Gazette.</em></p><p>Among the delegates to the American Colonies' Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on that hot and steamy July 4 day in 1776 were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who went on to become the second and third of our presidents, respectively.</p><p>And in one of the most incredible coincidences in our nation's political history, Adams and Jefferson — the only American presidents to have signed the Declaration of Independence — died exactly 50 years later, Jefferson at Monticello, Va., and Adams at Quincy, Mass.</p><p>Interestingly, James Monroe was the third and last American president to die on the Fourth of July. His death occurred in 1831.</p><p>The foregoing historical trivia, however fascinating, is only part of the greatest political observance in our country's history. Jefferson and Adams were among 56 men who literally laid their lives on the line by signing that precious document, of which Jefferson was the principal author.</p><p>Benjamin Franklin, a member of the committee which drafted the Declaration, put it bluntly at the signing. He warned his colleagues that “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”</p><p>Of course, these brave leaders could not have envisioned the United States of America today, 234 years after her birth. Surely they knew that King George III of England would commit his full force to putting down the rebellion. But the Revolution was only the first of many more wars, large and small, that were to test the mettle of our people.</p><p>It's highly unlikely that the signers could have predicted the amazing advances in transportation — railroads, huge ships, the automobile, jet airplanes, space vehicles that put Americans on the moon and flew by planets far beyond our Earth.</p><p>Indeed, the America and the world today would have blown the minds of our founding fathers.</p><p>Nevertheless, those of us alive on this great day have something in common with the Washingtons, Jeffersons, Adamses and Franklins. Their freedom has remained our freedom.</p><p>The United States of America, even with the warts it has collected during its history, remains the longest-lasting and most successful democracy in world history. So let us come together, and let us fly our flags proudly.</p><p>Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and other ceremonies. The Fourth of July is indeed the national day of the United States.</p><p>John Adams would have loved it. He wrote these stirring words about Independence Day to his wife, Abigail:</p><p>“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward, forever more.”</p><p>Your words, Mr. President, continue to inspire our country and give today's Americans a collective sense of great patriotic pride.</p>